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‘The Simpsons’ Skewer Ricky Gervais, Golden Globes and ‘Toy Story’

Last night’s awards-themed episode of “The Simpsons” was overflowing with Hollywood jokes, as Bart made his way through awards season with his autobiographical short, Angry Dad. There were too many sharp little bits to mention. Here are a few highlights that put awards season in its place:

– A swipe at the Golden Globes: Luigi the pizza man appears at Bart’s door. He is also a member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, delegated to tell Bart his film has been nominated – and then to deliver a pizza to Anthony Hopkins.

– A swipe at awards season: When Homer leaps to the stage to accept the Globe in Bart’s place, Marge reassures Bart, “Don’t worry, honey, this is just the first of way too many awards shows. You’ll get your chance to say ridiculous things.”

– Ricky Gervais as himself at the Globes: He walks up to a lobby bar where there’s a photo of him above the words “Do Not Allow This Man To Host.” His conversation with the bartender is a mini Gervais routine, as he unconvincingly proclaims he has “the common touch” – not like that snobby Helen Mirren, he says.

Best of all were the clips from Angry Dad’s competitors in the animated shorts category at the Oscars, all perfectly sending up the style of the originals:

Condiments from the Mixar (yes, Mixar) guys, nerds in Hawaiian shirts. Of course it’s not “Toy Story”: this hero is a cowboy-hat-wearing ketchup bottle, who rides a horse that’s actually a bottle of horseradish (ha). They’re surrounded by their pals: a bottle of pickles, a jar of mayo and a jar of peanut butter, who comes to a tragic end.

And the piece de resistance: The Brothers of Beauville – sounds like the Triplets of Belleville, looks like The Illusionist – about three French brothers, one of whom snorts wedges of cheese up his nose. Ah, no one does sophisticated animation like the French.